Gretchen’s Lock – Menning Films

March 29, 2017

Sarah Hunter | Actor Highlight | Meet the Cast | UNWAVERING

Today we continue the UNWAVERING Actor Highlight series with Sarah Hunter.

The role Sarah played in UNWAVERING was Eva. Eva is one of the girls in captivity. In our first film, Gretchen’s Lock, Sarah played the infamous role of Gretchen and did a wonderful job. We knew we wanted her to be a part of UNWAVERING and she gave life to the role she played.

Here are the questions we asked Sarah:

MPF: What was your favorite part of filming for UNWAVERING?

Sarah: My favorite part of filming Unwavering was when we had to run out of the building and out to the back from the bad guys to get away as fast and quiet and possible. It was very heart pounding.

MPF: What’s your favorite role you’ve ever played?

Sarah: My favorite role I ever played in a film was Gretchen in Gretchen’s Lock.

MPF: Which actor(s) inspire you?

Sarah: Melissa McCarthy inspires me as an actress.

MPF: What’s your favorite movie of all time?

Sarah: The Great Gatsby

MPF: What are a couple of your hobbies?

Sarah: My hobbies are crafting, reading and acting.

MPF: What made you interested in acting?

Sarah: I’ve always wanted to be in movies and TV shows even when I was little. I looked up to Disney characters and always dreamed of staring on Disney Channel. When I entered the 9th grade I discovered the Speech and Debate team and I found my inner actor. It’s one of my most favorable memories.

MPF: Favorite color?

Sarah: My favorite color is Pink!

MPF: Who is your favorite character in the UNWAVERING film?

Sarah: My favorite character in the UWAVERING film would have to be Sarah. She really is tested a lot throughout the film and it was amazing to see her act.

MPF: Do you have any advice for aspiring actors?

Sarah: My advice to anyone interested in acting to follow their dreams. Even if it may seem impossible, it’s not. You’re dreams can always become a reality.

Thank you, Sarah, for being a part of this film! The Grand Premiere for UNWAVERING is less than a month away! You can get tickets for it here: UNWAVERING Grand Premiere

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March 24, 2017

Emily Geary | Actor Highlight | Meet the Cast | UNWAVERING

Today on the UNWAVERING Actor Highlight series we are featuring Emily Geary.

The role Emily played in UNWAVERING was Brittany. Brittany’s character is the stereotypical snobby, stuck up blonde that tries to get Sarah to follow in her questionable behavior. Emily is very sweet and sincere and nothing like this in real life. However, when she auditioned for the role she transformed into quite the vixen. She did a phenomenal job and truly brought her character to life!

Emily is involved with modeling and film projects and has been featured in music videos, fashion shows, independent films, and the hit TV series Outsiders. You learn more about Emily by visiting her website: Model Emily Geary

Here are the questions we asked Emily:

MPF: What was your favorite part of filming for UNWAVERING?

Emily: I really loved filming the prom scene for Unwavering. It was a lot of fun spending the day with the glam squad and getting ready with Katie. It really felt like we were in high school again, getting to go to prom all over!

MPF: What’s your favorite role you’ve ever played?

Emily: Playing a core background character for two seasons on Outsiders, on WGN America, has been my favorite role to date. I’ve spent so much time on set with the cast and crew that we’ve really become a little family.

MPF: Which actor(s) inspire you?

Emily: Margot Robbie. I watched an interview once about her audition for The Wolf of Wall Street. She said she knew she needed to do something to really stand out when she got a call back. In the heat of the moment she slapped Leonardo DiCaprio in the face. She said she couldn’t believe she hit him in the face and thought she was going to get arrested. It takes some serious passion for the business to hit such a huge star in the face. The fact that she had the guts to do that is simply amazing to me. She was basically an overnight sensation and her work proves why.

MPF: What’s your favorite movie of all time?

Emily: Pretty Woman. I’m just obsessed with it, I’ve probably seen the movie a thousand times and I know all the lines.

MPF: What are a couple of your hobbies?

Emily: Acting and reading.

MPF: What made you interested in acting?

Emily: I started out modeling which led me to be cast as an extra in a few films, I immediately fell in love with being on set. I just knew it was something I wanted to pursue further.

MPF: Favorite color?

Emily: White! (Pretty sure it hasn’t changed since my last interview for Gretchen’s Lock lol)

MPF: Who is your favorite character in the UNWAVERING film?

Emily: Sarah, just wait for the film and you’ll understand why. Her strength and faith is admirable.

MPF: Do you have any advice for aspiring actors?

Emily: Never give up on your dreams and work as hard as you can to achieve them. The process may be tough, but the result is worth it.

Thank you, Emily, for your great performance! To see Emily in UNWAVERING you can get tickets for the Grand Premiere here: UNWAVERING Grand Premiere

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February 16, 2017

Emily Kelly | Actor Highlight | MEET THE CAST | UNWAVERING

Today on the UNWAVERING Actor Highlight series we are featuring the fabulous Emily Kelly.

The role Emily played in UNWAVERING was Nicole. Nicole’s character was caring and easily influenced. From working with Emily in Gretchen’s Lock I knew should would be an incredible asset to have on the cast and she did a wonderful job!

Emily has been involved with many projects in the area and has a strong background in theater. She also has been working with fellow cast member, Jason Klingensmith, on Rivals.

To see her work and recent projects you can visit her Facebook page or IMDB page.

Here are the questions we asked Emily:

MPF: What was your favorite part of filming for UNWAVERING?

Emily: My favorite part of filming for UNWAVERING was getting to work with such a talented group of actors. It was cool to get to share scenes with some old friends, but it was equally exciting to get to work with so much new talent, too. There’s such a wonderful network of actors in Northeast Ohio, and it’s always fun to see who you’ll meet and what new contacts you’ll make.

MPF: What’s your favorite role you’ve ever played?

Emily: It’s hard to choose a favorite role that I’ve ever played-Between the stage and the screen, I’ve been fortunate enough to build a pretty diverse resume of characters. I definitely had a good time diving into the role of mercenary space werewolf, FANG, in Renee Ebert’s WEREWOLVES FROM OUTER SPACE. I also had a great time playing the perpetually cranky, Jenn, in Menning Photographic Films’ GRETCHEN’S LOCK.

MPF: Which actor(s) inspire you?

Emily: I guess I’m most inspired by classically trained actors. I absolutely adore Benedict Cumberbatch. His performances are always so incredibly calculated and intelligent. He’s simply brilliant. I love Tom Hiddleston. His performances are always so effortless and smooth. On the flip-side of that, though, I love Tom Hardy, for a completely different reason. His characters are always so mesmerizing because he’s so utterly fearless. He’s manic and bold, making character choices that are always innovative and surprising.

MPF: What’s your favorite movie of all time?

Emily: My favorite movie of all time is “The Breakfast Club.” I think we’ve all had that moment in life where find ourselves thrust into an unlikely circumstance, with people we never imagined standing alongside. I’ve always wanted to adapt it for the stage, but it could never be the same. Besides, I’m WAY too old now to play Claire.

MPF: What are a couple of your hobbies?

Emily: When I’m not working during the week or shooting on the weekends, I have a few other things you’ll find me doing. Most days, you can find me at the gym, because I love to challenge myself to be better and stronger. You may find me behind a computer screen, because I’ve been trying to write more. My brain is full of screenplays, it’s just a matter of getting them all out! My favorite thing that you’ll catch me doing, though, is cosplaying with my daughter, Sidney. From DC and Marvel Comics to Star Wars, we love to hit the Comic Con circuit in homemade costumes. I think my favorite, so far, is our recent Deadpool and Cable cosplay at Pittsburgh’s Wizard World Comic Con.

MPF: What made you interested in acting?

Emily: I think the thing that made me the most interested in acting was the feeling of “home” that I got, from the very first time that I stepped on-stage. I was always a busy kid. I was in the band, the choir, cheerleading, church, academic team-You name it. Although I enjoyed all those things, I never felt the sense of truly belonging the way that I did when I was acting. I loved the rush of having all eyes on me. I loved the idea of being someone else for a time. For a kid who secretly wrestled with the social anxiety of fitting in, it was a time when all my worries disappeared.

MPF: Favorite color?

Emily: My favorite color has always been pink. It can be soft and feminine. It can be loud and brash. It’s the perfect color for a girl who loves to slip in and out of different characters. My first car was even magenta.

MPF: Who is your favorite character in the UNWAVERING film?

Emily: Without giving away too much, I would have to say that my favorite character in UNWAVERING is the collective unit that the girls in captivity become. You never know how you would handle yourself in a situation like they find themselves in, but you pray that you would handle it courageously and with conviction.

MPF: Do you have any advice for aspiring actors?

Emily: As I mentioned earlier, there’s an incredibly special network of actors in Northeast Ohio. The most important thing that I can tell actors, particularly ones around here, is that that network can lift you up or it can bury you. You never know who you’re working with, nor do you know who may see what you’re working on. Always approach every job with professionalism. Always be prompt and prepared. No matter how small the project, it could open the door to something much bigger!

Emily’s daughter Sidney even made a small appearance in UNWAVERING.

Thank you, Emily, for being a part of this film! For information about the Grand Premiere of UNWAVERING be sure to sign up for the newsletter here:

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February 6, 2017

Joe Morales | Actor Highlight | Meet the Cast | UNWAVERING

Continuing on the UNWAVERING Actor Highlight series, today we are featuring Joe Morales.

Image may contain: 1 person, closeup

In UNWAVERING Joe plays Tom who is the boyfriend of Sarah’s best friend Brittany. I was looking for someone who was cool, laid back, and charming. Of course, we chose Joe to fit that part.

Joe is very talented and has been a part of several films in the past couple years. He also is involved with radio and we’ve worked with him in Gretchen’s Lock.

Here are the questions we asked Joe:

MPF: What was your favorite part of filming for UNWAVERING?

Joe: My favorite part of filming Unwavering was getting to reunite with some of the Gretchen’s Lock cast and crew. It is always a pleasure to see all of the familiar faces and meet the incredibly talented new faces I had not gotten to work with before. What makes it even better is that everyone is just so kind and each person just wants to make a great film. I also liked getting to ride in a hummer limo for the first time and getting dressed up for prom again brought back good memories from high school.

MPF: What is your favorite role you have ever played?

Joe: It is very difficult to pick a favorite role I have played. They all serve many purposes and are vastly different from each other. I have gotten to play the good guy, the bad guy and the not so great guy, each of those being a learning experience. My favorite roles though are always the more comedic ones, such as Luke, a Chinese man who is addicted to gambling, in Anything Goes. What was fun about that role was making people laugh. I had to attempt a Chinese accent that I did rather poorly, and I had a scene where I lost my clothes in strip poker so I had to take off my robe and show some skin. It was embarrassing to say the least because I was and am a little on the scrawny side and this all happened when I was a freshman in high school where everything is awkward anyway, but it got people to laugh and made it all worth it.

I also enjoy getting to voice Lt. Adam Carson, a character from The Topnotch Tangler which is a segment of It’s All Been Done Radio Hour. The segment is in a superhero universe and Lt. Adam Carson works for the police department. He is always too eager and over joyed to help the superheroes save the city so it is nice to be someone who is usually happy. Check it out at www.itsallbeendoneradiohour.com and take a listen to the other segments of the show, along with the other programs we take part in with It’s All Been Done Presents at www.iabdpresents.com

MPF: Which actor(s) inspire you?

Joe: There are so many fantastic actors out there. The two actors that have always inspired me are Johnny Depp and Tom Hanks. Depp mainly plays very eccentric characters that have a tendency to go outside the box while Hanks plays many down to earth, but also very deep roles that have such power. Andrew Garfield has also become an inspiration to me because as I knew him as playing the snarky teenager Peter Parker from Spider Man, I recently watched him in Hacksaw Ridge and I was in awe. He brought such raw emotion to the role and I bet the real Desmond Doss would have been proud.

MPF: What is your favorite movie of all time?

Joe: John Carpenter’s Halloween will forever be my favorite movie. Aside from the performances and the cinematography, the score is what makes it just so creepy.

MPF: What are some of your hobbies?

Joe: I really enjoy going to the movies with friends, watching television, listening to music, taking my dogs for a walk and swimming. I have wanted to get more involved in photography and get back into music, but life gets in the way and I have not made time for that.

MPF: What made you interested in acting?

Joe: When I was little, my mom would tape my brother, sister, cousins, friends and myself doing skits of The Maury Show and Jerry Springer. We even did spoofs of Rush Hour, Tomb Raider, and A Nightmare on Elm Street. It essentially became our childhood and from there, I realized I enjoyed entertaining people with different characters from stories I wanted to tell. I then got into plays and musicals throughout middle and high school and after college, I started getting more into acting.

MPF: Favorite color?

Joe: Tie between Blue and Green, but I also really like Red to.

MPF: Who is your favorite character in the UNWAVERING film?

Joe: I have not gotten to see any of the film thus far, but from the script, my favorite character is Yusaf. What I like about the character is that you do not really know where he stands. At one moment, he seems to want to help the girls and cares about what is happening. Then he is the complete opposite. It is that mystery of whether or not he is good or bad. Even though I haven’t seen it yet, I know that Nick plays it extraordinarily well.

MPF: Do you have any advice for aspiring actors?

Joe: “If you dream of doing it, make it come true.” Even though the options are best in the big cities like Los Angeles and New York City, Ohio has many options for aspiring actors and filmmakers alike that make it happen, as the Mennings do with their films. Sometimes, it just takes some passionate dreamers to make something happen.

Thank you, Joe, for your stellar performance! For information about the Grand Premiere of UNWAVERING be sure to sign up for the newsletter here: www.menningphotographicfilms.com/newsletter

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May 18, 2016

Gretchen’s Lock | From Inception to Grand Premiere | Part III

Today we are continuing on the behind the scenes of Gretchen’s Lock. In case you missed the other posts you can read them HERE and HERE.

Filming: Day 2

The second day of filming started out with beautiful sunshine. There was a bit of Autumn chill in the air but the sun was warm. The forecast was calling for rain in the night and a 100% chance the following day, which we’ll get into in the next post. The campsite was already set up but we had to unload the equipment and prep everything to film. After the first day we were able to consolidate some equipment and I also wanted to keep things moving quickly since we had a bunch to film.

We smoothly executed Scene 04 where the campers talked about investigating the lock further. We wrapped up around lunchtime and got the drone, vehicles, and jib ready to film the car sequence. The only thing we were missing was the 1923 Dodge Brothers Phaeton Convertible.

I looked at my watch and saw that it was an hour past when the car was supposed to arrive. I wasn’t really worried at this point because we were filming the other cars pulling into the parking lot from the road so we had some more time. We did a couple takes with the drone and jib filming the cars pulling into the parking lot off of Sprucevale Road across from Hambleton Mill.

We were finishing up and everyone started moving the equipment back to the camp. I stopped and looked down at my phone to see that I had a few texts. As I stated before, reception service is a bit spotty where we were filming. I scrolled through them and saw that Robert, the owner and driver of the 1923 Dodge, was having some issues with the car and the tire blew out. Now it was time to panic a little. I then saw that he sent the texts about two hours ago and I never responded because I just received them and he still wasn’t there. The panic level started to raise slightly. At this point everyone was back at camp and I was about to make my way down the drive and suddenly my phone rang…

To my delight it was Robert! I was at the perfect location to get a call and to my surprise he was minutes from the parking lot. How’s that for timing? My panic quickly faded and was overtaken by excitement and relief. I stayed on the phone as he turned into the parking lot. Whew! I happily greeted him and hopped in and he drove us to camp.

After everyone checked out the 1923 Dodge, Jacob (boom mic operator) and I climbed in the trunk of the Monte Carlo to get the scene of Dominic and Jason talking as they pulled into the parking lot by the campsite. There’s probably a picture out there of us snuggled in the back seat with our equipment but who knows where that is. At any rate, we got their dialogue in a couple of takes and moved on.

We began filming the parking lot scene and the clouds started rolling in and the wind picked up. There’s even a blooper of the $100 bill blowing away in the wind.

Here’s a cool still I shot of Tyler (Man in Suit) and the 1923 Dodge before Robert took it back to Cortland (This vehicle and others can be rented for events. Check out BMZ Classics for more info).

After we finished filming in the parking lot we went back camp, ate dinner, and began preparing for the night scenes. The wind was still blowing and it was sprinkling very lightly. We covered up all the gear we could with tarps to prevent it from getting wet.

This area of Beaver Creek is unique in the way the sun sets in October. It quickly goes behind the hills and sets early. Not to mention the clouds aided in the early sunset. Thanks to Pakob and Nick we had a roaring fire and began filming. I love how you can feel the warmth of the fire as the light from the flames danced on the characters faces. Also, the dark woods set the mood on how the rest of the night started to unfold in the film.

As the night continued, the sprinkles started turning into light rain and we each had an umbrella to cover some of the equipment we were using to film. The rain was absolutely perfect! Just as things started to pick up in the film the rain got heavier. It made the scenes in the woods much more creepier and I was extremely pumped to see the raindrops in the beams of the flashlights. A couple of times water droplets fell onto the lens and I left them there because they created a unique look to the footage.

Creepy, right?

We wrapped up the scenes and frantically began loading the equipment into the cars. The tarp coverage wasn’t ideal but we were lucky that none of the equipment got ruined. We were able to leave camp by 10:30 pm. On the ride home this time I couldn’t stop thinking about the weather for the next day. We contemplated a few things at dinner time about rescheduling the next days shoot but it wouldn’t have worked with everyone’s schedule. I arrived home and began to unload the equipment into the garage to dry it out. I checked the forecast that still said there was a 100% chance of rain all day. I looked around for a moment. The rain pounded hard on the roof as I stood there looking at the waterlogged equipment wondering what to do. I thought hard, prayed, and decided to wait until the next day before I made a decision…

April 30, 2016May 1, 2016

Gretchen’s Lock | From Inception to Grand Premiere | Part II

Today we are continuing with the multi-part blog about Gretchen’s Lock. In case you missed the first part you can check it out HERE.

Filming: Day 1

After getting everything prepped and showing everyone the lock, the cast and crew were eager to begin our filming journey. We headed down the Vondergreen Trail that leads to Gretchen’s Lock and decided to shoot with the sun behind the actors. Like I said before, the weather was absolutely perfect for our days of filming. The bright sunshine coincided with the adventure the campers were on and their joking manner. So, we found a section of the trail that seemed like a good place to start. We looked at the trail that went slightly uphill and thought everything was in place.

Sound and cameras were rolling, “ACTION.” As myself, the three members running audio, and Danielle started trekking backwards the terrain proved to be challenging. A couple of steps into the take the boom mics were hitting branches I was tripping over rocks and roots and everything was going a little too fast. Side note, operating the Glidecam is an art form itself which I have not mastered by far. We decided to move a little slower and Danielle guided me by holding onto my belt and tugging to warn me if there was a step up, a rock, a root, a squirrel, whatever I couldn’t see behind me. After a couple of takes we began to find a rhythm and finished out the opening scene.

As we arrived to the trail offshoot that leads to Gretchen’s Lock the sun was still brightly shinning. However, as soon as we walked down to the lock the sun went behind the hill on the other side of the creek leaving Gretchen’s Lock in a shadow. I think the geography of the area and the bend in the creek set up Gretchen’s Lock to be dark, cold, and quiet which adds to its mystery. We quickly executed the takes and finished up before dinner time. Scene 1 was in the bag and we made the 15 minute hike back to the parking lot.

As pizza arrived the cast and crew quickly bonded and we gathered around the fire talking about filming the first scene. This group of people seemed to click instantly as we began setting things up for the night scenes.

Because the area we were filming is primitive, there was no access to electricity. We set up a generator for the lights we used for the campfire scenes. We placed the generator back in the woods and ran a couple of 100 ft extension cords. After running cords and setting up the lights we started the generator. Immediately the noise was quite prevalent and was going to be an issue with the audio. We covered the generator with a box that had ventilation and carpet to absorb the sound. This seemed to eliminate a lot of noise.

We position the actors and cameras and began to film. Right after the first take the lights faded out and the generator stopped. I looked up from my camera with concern. We walked to the generator and heard it making a hissing sound. I removed the box and felt the heat coming from the generator. Obviously we didn’t have adequate ventilation and it was overheated. We needed to relieve the pressure so it didn’t blow up (we joked about doing another film with pyrotechnics to calm everyone’s nerves. Gretchen’s Lock II: Gretchen’s Out for Blood). I was able to unscrew the gas cap and to release the pressure and we let the generator cool down for a few minutes. We started it back up and continued filming and decided we’ll deal with the noise in post production. As we finished with the campfire scene we headed into the tent.

The cast was super ornery at this time as they snuggled up in their sleeping bags and blankets. One of my regrets was not filming some of the antics that were happening in between the takes. After the cast got comfortable inside the tent four of us crew members went in to film the scene. Huddled in the corner was Danielle, Jacob, Amy, and myself. We knocked out that scene in a couple of takes and we moved outside to finish up the day 1 of filming.

At this point I decided we weren’t going to use the generator anymore because it was becoming a hassle. With the help of white foam boards we were able to light the actors as they walked through the woods. The story seemed to get more real as we ventured into the woods with flashlights, a camera, and a crew of foam board holders. The woods were very dark even though there was a full moon each night we filmed. At one point there were no flashlights on and the only light you could see was the moon in the distance and the glow of the campfire. We finished out and were done by 10:30 pm. We gathered all the equipment and loaded it into the cars and left the campsite.

On my way home I finally had sometime to think since Danielle drove separately. I was still in disbelief that this was actually happening and amazed that everything went as smooth as it did for the first day. I quickly grounded myself and began to plan things out in my head for the next day’s shoot which was jam packed…

April 26, 2016

Gretchen’s Lock | From Inception to Grand Premiere | Part I

Inception

Gretchen’s Lock was our first independent film. Both Danielle and I spent a lot of time visiting Beaver Creek State Park with family as we grew up not knowing each other. Five and a half years ago, before we got into photography and way before video, we went to explore Gretchen’s Lock for the first time together with our pug, Norris. It was an early Autumn day and there was a chill in there air. Of course, that was heightened as we approached the lock.

After exploring we made our way back to the parking lot. Jokingly we said, “Someone should make a movie about this place.” Like I said before, this is way before we even got into the industry and we didn’t remember that we talked about it until just before we started to film. Digging in the Facebook archives today we found this post that blew our mind! Seriously, this is CRAZY!!

Fast forward to last July, after photographing over 100 weddings and dabbling in a few promotional videos, I had the idea of making an independent film. I wanted to make a film about something local, something outdoors, and something relatively low budget. Beaver Creek came to mind because of its beauty and wonder. As I started to develop ideas, Gretchen’s Lock popped into my head. I began research and found out even more legends in the area that I’ve heard in passing but had never connected.

I began writing a screenplay in mid-July and finished the bulk of it sitting on the porch of a cabin in Amish country near Sugarcreek while we were on vacation in August. As soon as we returned home I quickly wanted to get things underway. I drove down to the park, hiked to Gretchen’s Lock, snapped a few photos of the lock and Hambleton’s Mill before I left and put a poster for a cast & crew call. Danielle and I joked in the evenings saying, “Who do you think we can pull into this production?” We thought maybe some family friends and perhaps a handful of people could be dragged in. After posting the cast and crew call poster our phone, email, and social media blew up with interest of people wanting to be a part of the production. I think my phone rang nonstop for 3 or 4 days! The reach of the poster was over 67,000 people! Yikes!

After sending out hundreds of emails and receiving information forms from those who were interested we narrowed down the crew members and the potential actors we’d be auditioning. We set up the auditions for September 20th, 2015 and got things moving at Beaver Creek by applying for a permit to film there and reserved the Group 3 campsite. We were blown away by some of the auditions and started to assemble the cast.

After reaching out to fill in a couple of the roles we had our team! I finished tweaking the script and we had one and only production meeting and table read. Due to the quick nature of wanting to film at the end of October, a good handful of cast and crew couldn’t make it to the meeting. Despite that fact, after the meeting I felt energized and ready to get more things rolling.

October is usually the busiest time of the year for our photography business. From weddings to family sessions to high school seniors our schedule was jam packed. What a great idea to schedule films dates in the busiest month of the year, NOT! Danielle sometimes looked at me like I was crazy. We were running around from all of the sessions, taking care of our 8 month old, and gathering equipment, supplies, and working around everyone’s schedule to come up with a solid film schedule for the three days we filmed in October. October was surely a whirlwind of chaos, but things started falling into place.

The week before filming we had photo sessions almost every evening, a wedding on Saturday, and another session on Sunday before we began filming on Monday, October 26th. That Friday, the 23rd, I got up at 3:30 am, went to Walmart to get supplies, went to a few hardware stores when they opened, hit up Hobby Lobby to get some other supplies, and then, of course, stopped at Chick-Fil-A for an early lunch.

I sped my way back home to begin working on things. As the day quickly faded away I realized there were some things that just weren’t going to get completed. We packed up and headed to our wedding the next day and then to our session Sunday evening (our session was in Bethany, WV so it took an hour and twenty minutes to get there). After arriving home late, we got everything we could together.

As the restless night ensued, I got up at the crack of dawn to load everything up for filming. I was quite tired, very anxious, and hoping everything would go as planned. Everything was loaded up, I headed down to the park, met up with Joe, and we began unloading. It was a beautiful Fall day. The leaves were so colorful, the sun was golden and warm, and there was an Autumn chill in the air. If there was any day to be representative of an ideal Fall day, this was it.

Butterflies were still fluttering away in my stomach as other crew and cast members arrived. When I saw most of the cast coming out of the shuttle, it hit me. This is actually going to happen.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be directing and filming a screenplay that I wrote and that there would be so many people willing to commit most of their time for three days to make it possible. After I met a few for the first time it was back to reality.

We began setting up the cameras and getting the audio equipment ready to go. The cast prepped for the day as the crew gathered equipment to hike to Gretchen’s Lock, which was about a 15 minute walk from the parking lot. I lead the pack with my camera on the glidecam attached to the stabilizing arm and vest still in disbelief that this was actually happening.

I wanted to show everyone Gretchen’s Lock before we began filming to set the tone. After a brief overview it was time….

April 23, 2016April 23, 2016

Gretchen’s Lock Cast & Crew

Gretchen’s Lock; a machine. Cast; the fuel. Film Crew; the moving parts grinding away to make the machine move efficiently. There were so many incredible people that we got to work with to produce Gretchen’s Lock. Without them this production would have completely fallen apart. They were dedicated, imperative, knowledgeable, and willing to do anything it took. Even those with no experience jumped in, got their hands dirty (literally), and turned into pros 5 minutes into filming. It was fantastic to have worked with such a great group of people. Maybe it was being out in the woods, in the rain, in the mud, or sharing a part of ourselves and pouring it into the production, and there will forever be a bond between us. This cast and crew came together and created something special to say the least. We will be forever grateful for the hard work everyone has put in and will cherish the friendships that were forged while filming.

Here’s the amazing cast & crew of Gretchen’s Lock. We wish everyone was here in this photo, but unfortunately schedules don’t always align.

Here are some other photos from the filming of Gretchen’s Lock:

Thank you to everyone who was involved in the making of the Gretchen’s Lock film! Without you none of this could have been possible! We feel truly honored to have gotten the chance to work with every single one of you. We look forward to future productions with you all!

For more information about the Gretchen’s Lock film & for tickets to the showing in Columbiana, go HERE. We’re thrilled to bring you a locally made independent film production featuring local legends and made in Beaver Creek State Park! Thank you for your support in our endeavors & we hope to see you at the Grand Premiere of Gretchen’s Lock TODAY, April 23. The 6:30 pm showing is SOLD OUT and the 8:00 pm showing is getting close to selling out, as well. Get them while you still can!

April 22, 2016

Tyler Fisher | Actor Highlight | Meet the Cast | Gretchen’s Lock

To round out our Actor Highlight series is Tyler Fisher. Tyler’s role in the film was a man in a vintage suit (circa 1920-1930’s) who had a sweet 1923 Dodge Brothers Phaeton Convertible as his ride.

Tyler was a student of one of our crew members and submitted a video audition, which showed his versatility. He was a perfect person to play the role as the Man In Suit. Man In Suit is a mysterious character and the others meet him as they are moving camp. Although his identity is a mystery, there is a mention of his name is the first part of the film. Tyler carried that mysticism and intrigue and delivered his lines in the way that seemed fitting for his character.

Tyler has been involved in many productions in high school and enjoys doing impressions and improv sessions.

Here are the questions we asked Tyler:

MPF: What was your favorite part of filming for Gretchen’s Lock?

Tyler: As an aspiring actor, having something so local and anticipated as my first official project is really great, and I can say that I really enjoyed my experience on set.

MPF: Did you know anything about the local legends of Gretchen’s Lock before auditioning?

Tyler: I’ve lived in East Liverpool for my entire life, and, living that close to the park, it’s hard to not know about the stories.

MPF: Do you believe in ghosts?

Tyler: I can’t say I do, but maybe I just haven’t had a reason to, yet.

MPF: What’s your favorite role you’ve ever played? (Don’t worry; it doesn’t have to be your role in Gretchen’s Lock). 🙂

Tyler: I definitely enjoy the bragging rights that came along with portraying “_____________” [in Gretchen’s Lock]. <————– (make your own assumptions after watching the film 🙂 )

MPF: Which actor(s) inspire you?

Tyler: Robin Williams was a big inspiration for me on and off camera. His take on life, and his acting showed me that someone can be loud and theatrical and still live their dreams if they choose to follow them. His comedy is some of my favorite, and his roles in movies like “Good Morning Vietnam”, and “The Adventure of Baron Munchausen” really made me feel like I had found something I could happily do for the rest of my life, if I only could find a way. He was an enormous inspiration to me, and continues to be through his work.

MPF: What’s your favorite movie of all time?

Tyler: Film is my single favorite form of art and to ask me to pick a favorite is really asking the impossible. My taste in movies ranges from Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (1981) and anything Monty Python, to The Fisher King and What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. Though, if I had to choose a genre of movies as a favorite, Cult Classics have a special place in my heart. From poorly dubbed kung fu movies, cheesy 80’s sci-fi, to campy horror flicks and anything Quentin Tarantino has ever put out.

MPF: What are a couple of your hobbies?

Tyler: I like playing guitar in my free time, but I am guilty of wasting many a night watching B movies or playing video games.

MPF: What made you interested in acting?

Tyler: I have always felt like it was just what I wanted to do. I played sports as a child, but never really enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed doing impressions and improv comedy for my friends and family. Now I’m out of high school and I’m not letting anybody else dictate my future. I would rather fail miserably at something I love, than get by on something I loathe. Who knows! I might actually find my way and really learn what it is to be an actor.

MPF: Favorite color?

Tyler: Blue and all variations of blue

MPF: Who is your favorite character in the Gretchen’s Lock film?

Tyler: I can’t say I have a favorite. They were all great!

MPF: Do you have any advice for aspiring actors?

Tyler: I myself am an aspiring actor so I can’t say that my advice is worth anything, but you should follow your dreams no matter what they are. People are always going to doubt you and there are always going to be rough patches, but you only have one go at this and there’s no reason you should waste it doing something you don’t enjoy.

Thank you, Tyler, for your intriguing performance in the film! We’re so glad that you were a part of the production and you did an awesome job!

For more information about the Gretchen’s Lock film & for tickets to the ONLY local showings in Columbiana, go HERE. We’re thrilled to bring you a locally made independent film production featuring local legends and made in Beaver Creek State Park! Thank you for your support in our endeavors & we hope to see you at the Grand Premiere of Gretchen’s Lock on THIS SATURDAY, April 23. It’ll be a mysteriously good time!

April 15, 2016

Pakob Jarernpone | Actor Highlight | Meet the Cast | Gretchen’s Lock

Today on the Actor Highlight series we are featuring Pakob Jarernpone. Thanks to Deanna Sherman, a fellow cast member, we were introduced to Pakob, whom Deanna has worked with several times in the past.

The role Pakob played in Gretchen’s Lock was Kevin. Kevin’s character is cautious, unadventurous, and the husband to Jenn. Due to Jenn’s controlling personality Kevin is easily swayed. Pakob submitted a video audition and his facial expressions and emotions he portrayed for Kevin were fantastic. While filming Gretchen’s Lock, those expressions and emotions took his character to another level that I never even imagined.

Pakob Jarernpone is best know for his roles in The Deprogrammer, Grasshopper, and Julia. Pakob has 5 years of training in Tatsu-Do, has been involved in well over 15 films, and was an extra in The Avengers, which initially sparked his interest to further his acting career.

Here’s the link to a short reel of Pakob: Pakob Jarernpone

And here’s the extensive list of films he has be involved in: Pakob IMDB

Here are the questions we asked Pakob:

MPF: What was your favorite part of filming for Gretchen’s Lock?

Pakob: My favorite part of filming GL was the camaraderie between all of the cast and crew. Shooting in cold rainy weather can be tough, but if you’re with the right group of people you can have a great time with, none of those things seem so bad.

MPF: Did you know anything about the local legends of Gretchen’s Lock before auditioning?

Pakob: I never knew anything about any of the local legends until I became involved with the project.

MPF: Do you believe in ghosts?

Pakob: I DO believe in ghosts and other supernatural phenomena.

MPF: What’s your favorite movie of all time?

Pakob: My favorite movie of all time is Big Trouble in Little China. I love all of John Carpenter’s movies, but this one has a special place in my heart because I have always been a big fan of martial arts/chop socky flicks, plus it was a movie I watched hundreds of times when I was a kid and I still love it to this day!

MPF: What are a couple of your hobbies?

Pakob: I’ve collected and read comic books ever since I was 12 years old. I’m a huge comic book nerd.

MPF: What made you interested in acting?

Pakob: I became interested in acting after working as an extra in Avengers.

MPF: Favorite color?

Pakob: My favorite color is black.

Thank you, Pakob, for your admirable performance in the film! We’re so glad that you were a part of the production and you did a superb job!

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